Grand mufti backs conscription

RIYADH: Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah Al-Asheikh supports the idea of mandatory conscription that would see Saudi youths participate in military service.
The grand mufti also wants legislation enacted requiring youths to be drafted into compulsory military training programs for a certain period of time.
The demand for conscription has been made for the first time by such a senior religious scholar in Saudi Arabia. Al-Asheikh said: “The Islamic world should cooperate, be prepared, and seek means of strength through training and imposing compulsory conscription on youths, so that they would be capable of defending their country from enemies.”
“I would recommend training and conscription of Saudi youths, to make them ready to protect our religion and homeland,” reiterated Al-Asheikh. If the conscription proposal is accepted by the Saudi government, then there will be a need to formulate laws that would require Saudi youths to be given compulsory military training.